Baking unit



Sept. 5, 1950 J. F. CAVANAGH BAKING UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1947 Spt. 5, 1950 J. F. CAVANAGH 2,520,997

BAKING UNIT Filed May 1, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 2 diam/Ff CA VANA GH Sept. 5, 1950 J. F; CAVANAGH 2,520,997

BAKING UNIT Filed May 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

[.0 W HEAT H H/GH HEAT Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,520,997 BAKING UNIT John F. Cavanagh, Providence, R. I. Application May 1, 1947," Serial No. 745,152

This invention relates to baking units of -the order of electric waffle irons, and although not limited to such use is especially adapted for the production of communion or altar bread as distributed in certain Christian churches.

One object is an emcient baking unit of light-' weight, compact design. I

Another object is a baking unit which is egtremely simple to operate and which, if desired, may be operated by one hand for opening, closin and locking the same.

A further object is a baking unit of attractive design and durable finish in which the adjustable parts thereof may be permanently and accurately adjusted. I

A still further object is a baking unit which will produce communion or altar bread con" taining traditionally symbolic designs.

A still further object is a baking unit having simple high and low heat adjustments with suitable thermometer control.

Other objects and advantages of my invention the parts in their locked position and Fig. 6 showing them in their unlocked position.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram showing the arrangement of the electrical heating elements,

and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail, particularly showing the means for. adjusting the position of the lower baking plate with reference to the other parts of the baking unit and for holding such plate in its adjusted position. I

I have indicated at ID the base of my bakingunit. Base I is preferably of cast, light-weight metal, such as aluminum, and is provided at'its rear edge with two spaced upstanding lugs I I (see Figs. 1 and 2) within which horizontal hearing pins l2 are retained. a i

I have indicated at [3 a holder for a top -baking plate. Holder (3 is preferably of cast metal and is provided at its rear edge with spaced integral bearing members l4 adapted to engage the bearing pins-12 so that holder l3 may be swung 6 Claims. (01. 99372) I Attached in any suitable manner to the under I face of top plate holder [3 is a top bakin plate I baking plate l7.

open position of Fig. 3.

l5, preferably of steel. If desired, plate l5 may be removably attached to top plate holder I3 by screws l6.

Attached to base I0 is a complemental bottom Plate I! has attached thereto a frame or rim [8 of suitable width which completely surrounds said plate and is preferably provided with an upturned edge or lip. As here shown, plate I! is attached to base It and frame or rim [3 is attached to the under face of plate I1 by meansv of a plurality of vertical studs l9 (see Fig. 8). Base Ill may be cut away, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide lateral webs or flanges I0 through which the studs l9 extend. Rim or frame I8 is fastened to the under face of plate I! by nuts 20 on the studs l9 and the studs are clamped to the webs or flanges Ill of base Ill by means of nuts 2| and 22. Thus, the lower baking plate I! and its rim orframe may be ad- J'usted vertically with respect to base It] and locked in any desired position of adjustment.

Suitable clamping means are provided for locking top plate holder 13 and top baking plate I5 in closed or baking position with reference to bottom baking plate I! and its rim or frame l8. As here shown, I pivot to the front edges of top plate ho1der l3 a C-shaped clamp 23 which is provided with any suitable operating handle or handles 24. Suitably mounted upon the lower end of clamp 23 is a, roll 25 adapted when the clamp is swung downwardly to its closed position (see Fig. 5) to engage a cooperatin plate 26 fastened to the upper edge of base Ii]. Thus when the baking unit is closed, top baking plate l5 will be firmly clamped against the bottom baking plate I! with, of course, a layer of batter interposed between said plates.

In practice it has been found desirable to initially separate or force apart said baking plates 15 and l I beforethe top plate holder i3 is swung intothe open position shown in Fig. 3. For this purpose the pivot pin 21 for clamp 23 is oscillatable with said clamp when the latter is operated and a kick-out pin 28 is slidably mounted in the top plate holder l3 and top baking plate [5, immediately beneath the pivot pin 21 and with its lower end flush with the under surface of top plate I 5 when the latter is closed upon the bottom baking plate I! (see Fig. 5). The under surface of pivot pin 21, where it is aligned with slidable pin 28, has a fiat portion 21' and a strip 29 which may be of Phosphor bronze is mounted upon upper plate holder l3 with its free end dis posed between this fiatted portion of the pivot pin. 21 and the upper end of the slidable pin 28 for the purpose of minimizing any clamping stress upon-slidable pin 28 when the pivot pin oscillates. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, pivot pin 2'! acts as a cam to force slide pin 28 downwardly against the upper surface of the top baking plate I? upon the initial movement of clamp 23 towards its unlocked position preparatory to opening the baking unit. This accomplishes the desired slight separation of plates I5 and I? before the opening operation actually occurs.

In order to provide a detent action and prevent clamp 23 from swinging downwardly when the baking unit is in the open position shown in Fig. 3, I fasten a flat spring to the clamp 23 with its free end in engagement with a pin 31 mounted upon the top plate holder I3.

The baking plates I5 and I! may be supplied with heat in any suitable manner. Where heated electrically, electrical heating elements indicated generally at H in the wiring diagram of Fig. '7 are suitably mounted in contact with said plates by means as shown. Preferably the arrangement In operating my improved baking unit, the

heating current is switched on and when the baking plates have reached the desired baking temperature, as shown by any suitable temperature indicator T associated with the baking unit, a quantity of unleavened batter is Poured onto the bottom baking plate I! and. the baking unit immediately closed and locked by the clampin means already described. Any excess batter which may ooze out around the margin of the baking plates is prevented from flowing down the sides of the base Ill by the upturned lip of V the frame or rim it, from which it may be removed as required. When the baking is combaking plate mounted thereon, a top plate holder hinged to said base, a top baking plate complemental to said bottom baking plate and carried by said top plate holder, and means for locking said parts in closed position comprising a G- shaped clamping member having a handle, a

pivot pin at the upper end ofjsaid clamping memher for pivoting said member to the outer face of the top plate holder, a locking portion at the 'lower end of said clamping member for frictional locking engagement beneath a portion of said base, and a knock-out pin slidable through said top plate and-top plate holder and having its upper end disposed for contact by the pivot pin for said clamping member when said member is swung towards its unlocked position whereby the pin is moved downwardly into contact with the isv such as to provide either low heat or high heat. 7

pleted, clamp 23 is swung upwardly in the direction of the arrow in. Fig. 6 to carry its roller 25 out of. agement with the plate 26 and when the opening operation is completed the baked sheet of bread may be removed from the baking unit. In this opening movement of the clamp 23, the baking plates 15 and I? are automatically forced slightly apart from each other by pin. 28.

The under surface of the upper baking plate [5 may be provided'with any suitable Symbols or designs, indicated at D in Fig. 3, to be baked into the sheet of bread.

' While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and not limiting and that the construction shown in the accompanying drawings may be variously modified within the spirit and scope of the in-. vention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. A baking unit, comprising a base, a bottom baking plate mounted thereon,. a top plate holder hinged to said base, a top baking plate complemental to said bottom baking plate and carried by said top plate holder, and means for locking said parts in closed position comprising a cam surface fixed beneath a portion of said base, a cl p member having a handle, and pivoted at its upper end to said top plate holder, and

7 plates from one another upon movement of said clamping member toward its unlocked position. 2- A baking unit, comprising a base a bottom file of this patents Number upper face of the bottom baking plate to cause the baking plates to separate slightly from each other. v

3. The structure of claim 2 and means to limit the movement of the handle upwardly whereupon when the clamping member reaches said limit, the top plate holder is lifted from closed position.

4.. The structure of claim 2, and a detent for preventing the clamping member from accidentally swinging downwardly towards its looking position when the parts of the baking unit are in their open position.

5. The structure of claim 4, said detent comprising-a spring member fastened at one end to the inner face of the clamping member and a pin carried by the top plate holder to be engaged by the free end of said detent.

6. A baking unit, comprising a base, a bottom baking plate mounted thereon, a top plate holder hinged near its rear edgeto said base, a top baking plate complemental to said bottom baking plate and carried by said top plate holder, means for locking saidparts in closed position comprising a C-shaped clamping member having a handle. a pivot pin at the upper end of said clamping. member for pivoting said member to the top plate holder, tr looking portion in the lower end of said clamping member for frictional locking engagement beneath a portion of said base, said pivot pin and-locking portionbeing so locatedthat when the-clamping member isin locked position the locking portion thereof is substantially in line with said pivot pin, and means actuated by said pivot pin for eifecting a slight separation of the top and bottom baking plates when the clamping member is swung towards its unlocked position.

JOHN F. CAVANAGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATEnTs Name Date 4 74 601 Horan i.. May 10, 1892 750,445 Forcke Jan. 26,1904 1 ,257,513 Messmer Feb. 26, 1918' 1,687,662 7 Far Oct. I6, 1928 1,950,385 Burch Mar; 13, 1934- 1,969,361 Fa len Aug. 7, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 251,206 Germany Feb. 16 191 1 440,046 Germany Jan. 2'2, 1927 

